Roberto Caldero, Bribery, Illinois 2022

A Chicago consultant has been accused of greasing palms to benefit his clients.

CHICAGO — Roberto Caldero, 69, pleaded guilty in federal court today to offering and providing bribes to public officials in an effort to benefit his clients.

The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Ashley T. Johnson, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General participated in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Kramer.

Caldero admitted in a plea agreement that in 2016 he offered and arranged for bribes to be provided to a City of Chicago alderman and a Chicago Public Schools employee in exchange for them taking official actions to benefit Caldero’s clients.

The benefits Caldero offered the CPS employee included the prospect of future employment, champagne, discounted event space for a family event, and admission to an annual benefit for a museum. To influence the alderman, Caldero arranged for campaign contributions to be made to political organizations affiliated with the alderman or his ward.

Unbeknownst to Caldero, the alderman was cooperating with the FBI.

Caldero pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger set sentencing for Dec. 15, 2022.

The consultant’s crimes were part of an effort to secure contracts and benefits for his clients.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois and was investigated by the FBI’s Chicago Field Office with the assistance of the Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General.

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